Fidel Castro Makes Rare Public Appearance
HAVANA (CBSMiami) – Fidel Castro, Cuba's former leader, made a rare public appearance Wednesday night to attend the opening of an art gallery in Havana.
In his first public appearance since April, Castro attended the opening of a gallery featuring Cuban artist Alexis Leyva, aka Kcho.
Castro, who is 87, is seen in photographs by Getty Images, arriving to the studio in a van next to his wife Dalia Soto de Valle.
He is seen in the photos hunched over and walking with the help of a cane and leaning on an aide for assistance.
He was wearing a black jacket and green scarf and in one picture, is seen reaching out to touch a sculpture.
In other photos, the gray-haired Castro is seated while admiring the art work and in another he is seen pointing at a work of art while the artist, Levya, leans in to talk to him.
It's the first public appearance by Castro since he attended the inauguration of Havana school on April 9.
In December he met privately with visiting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a key ally of Cuba.
Castro led Cuba for 48 years before falling gravely ill in July 2006. He stepped down from power in 2008 and turned over rule of the country to his brother, Raul.
Fidel nearly died in 2006 after having to go through multiple abdominal surgeries and reportedly having part of his colon removed.
